Turn Your Gas Guzzler Into A Sipper With My Top 5 Rarely Used Gas Saving Tips

With gas prices soaring and no end in sight, many drivers are adopting new habits to help ease the pain. Lifehacker, The Consumerist and many other sites offer great millage stretching tips, but some of my favorites are not usually mentioned.

#1 - Order At The Counter
If you frequent fast-food joints, or anything with a drive through window, don't idle in a long line of cars. Instead, park and order inside. It will probably take about the same amount of time, and you won't be sitting in your car getting 0 MPG.

Keep reading for the rest of my tips.

#2 - Get That Junk Out Of Your Trunk
The heavier your car is the more gas it takes to go a mile. Most of us use our cars like a temporary storage locker, keeping lots of needless items in the trunk and back seat. It may not look heavy, but all those miscellaneous items add up to serious weight. Lighten the load and only drive around with what you really need.

#3 - Don't Drive The Whole Way
Driving through parking garages, circling the block for a spot, and driving all the way to your destination is a waste of fuel. If weather and time permit, try parking closer to where you came from. This simple idea doesn't save buckets of gas each trip, but the accumulative effect is a fatter wallet and a thinner waist as you get natural exercise from the extra walking.

#4 - Order It Online
There is almost no reason to hop in the car for most shopping trips these days. Entertainment is transitioning to digital, on-line stores offer better deals than big box retailers, and many places offer free shipping for orders over a certain amount. You can even order groceries, personal care products, and alcohol from Simon Delivers. Just watch for minimum order requirements to get free shipping and delivery fees waived.

#5 - Shop Locally, Communally
Most of us have similar buying habits and schedules. If you must drive to handle routine errands bring a few friends. A small group of communal shoppers carpooling can save serious gas and be more fun anyway. Take turns driving to spread the savings around, and either have your friends walk to where your leaving from or a spot on the way so you don't clock too many additional miles.

Also, make sure you take stock of local shops, farmers markets, and convenience marts. Prices at smaller stores are usually a little more than at big retailers, but if all you need is deodorant don't drive ten miles to save twenty cents.

I hope these tips help you save some money during the gas hungry summer driving season. Please post any other obscure tricks you have learned, and good luck!